THIS time last year, Aileen Souza, 26, from West London, got the shock of her life when she started going bald.
Getting out of bed on Christmas morning, Aileen ran her fingers through her long hair – and felt a bald patch.
Using her phone camera she spotted an area the size of a Jammie Dodger biscuit centrre, on her scalp.
“I panicked — I was only 25 and had no idea why my hair would start falling out so young,” she recalls.
In the festive run-up, Aileen had been working flat out at a busy London finance firm as well as trying to buy presents and attend parties.
“My stress levels were through the roof,” she says.
She was behind on her gift-buying, and although she was too tired to attend Christmas parties, she felt obliged to.
“So I’d drag myself to all the parties, then be at my desk at 8am the next day,” she recalls.
“I was also upset that I wouldn’t be able to see my family at Christmas.
“I only had Christmas Day off, so there wasn’t enough time to travel to my family home in Ireland.”
Aileen spent Christmas Day with a friend who worked in a hospital.
“I was stressed, overworked and also very upset about my hair.
“I had no idea what was going on with my body.
“I’d been struggling to sleep, too, and felt anxious.
“I was very emotional.”
Aileen finally managed to see her GP on January 8, by which time more bald patches had appeared.
But, she says, the doctor told her she’d just have to wait to see if it grew back.
As the weeks went on, she noticed more and more bald patches, so in April she paid privately to see a dermatologist who diagnosed auto-immune condition alopecia areata, which affects around 100,000 people in the UK.
In 80 per cent of cases, hair regrows.
But 20 per cent will suffer persistent or even total hair loss.
“It happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles,” says dermatologist Dr Thuva Amutha.
“It can occur in small patches on the scalp or, in severe cases, result in the loss of all scalp hair or even body hair.
“The exact cause is unknown but stress has been identified as a potential trigger in some people.”
Eight months on, Aileen is still waiting for specialist help on the NHS.
After joining Facebook groups for those with the condition, desperate Aileen tried a drug she bought online, but by October, her hair had nearly all disappeared, so she shaved the rest off.
“It just kept falling out,” says Aileen.
“My hair was very thick, so it wasn’t until September that it reached the stage where others noticed it.
“My friends and family were shocked.
“People see me and think I have cancer.
“I have to explain that I’m healthy and well.”
Aileen now wears a head scarf for work and a wig that looks like her hair used to, for special occasions.
“I have these cute little white hairs coming through, so hopefully it will grow back,” she says.
“But I’ve got used to it now and I think I look quite cute bald.”
Aileen is single and usually wears her wig for dates.
“I don’t tell guys straight away,” she says.
“I wait until I feel the time is right. It’s been a good test.”
The illness has been a wake-up call and Aileen has a new job and can spend this Christmas Day with her family.
“I knew I had to calm my life down, so I changed jobs and do lots of sports,” she says.
“My body is still suffering because of the stress I endured last December.
“I’m determined this year will be different.
“Perhaps I’ll treat myself to a new wig for the big day.”
DERMATOLOGIST Dr Amutha, founder of Dr. Derme Skin Clinics, says: “The condition is not contagious or life-threatening but can be emotionally challenging.
“It can affect anyone, but there are certain factors that may increase risk.”
We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the NHS.
It is not usually something to worry about, but occasional it can be a sign of a medical concern.
These include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss and iron deficiency.
The NHS advises to book an appointment with your GP to see if you can get to the cause of it.
Experts at American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommend to eat healthy, limit curling irons and only use them for special occasions.
They also recommend using a gentle shampoo, and make use of leave-in conditioners.
